Awning structure



March 12, 1957 R os 2,784,463

AWNING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 10, 1952 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Oflice 2,784,463 Patented Mar. 12, 1957 AWNING STRUCTURE Ray R. Ross, Reading, Ohio Application October 10, 1952, Serial No. 314,035

9 Claims. (CI. 20-575) This invention relates to an awning structure for use in connection with windows of a building. More particulariy it relates to an awning structure of metal which can. be adjusted as to its position, and which can be easily disassembled, without complete dismantling, for cleaning.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an awning structure which, while being sturdy in construction, is nevertheless very light. It is another object of the invention to provide a structure which can be raised and lowered to suit the climatic conditions.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an awning structure wherein the awning proper is composed of a plurality of curtain members which can be individually removed from the structure for cleaning.

It is still another object of the invention to make it possible to provide curtain members in different colors, so that the user may rearrange the curtain members to vary the color scheme according to his taste.

- Yet-another object of the invention resides in the use of less material to accomplish the same purpose as in other types of awnings, and to minimize the cost of repairs by making it possible to replace individual damaged curtain members as opposed to large members or areas.

These and various other objects of the invention which will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter, or which will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts, of which I shall now describe certain exemplary embodiments.

Reference is made to the drawings forming a part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an awning structure according to the invention with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view from the inside of one of the curtain members;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of roof member;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modified type of curtain member;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 4 on a reduced scale showing a different type of sliding construction;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of another kind of roof structure;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 on a reduced scale showing a means for securing the awning in a desired position of adjustment; and

Figure 11 is an elevational view of a pair of tongs useful in disassembling the curtain elements.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention I provide a framework comprising upper and lower U frames indicated generally at 10 and 11. These U frames are disposed in parallel relationship in the form of a rigid structure by means of the brace members 12 and 13. Preferably, the U frames 10 and 11 are of tubular material such as tubular aluminum, and they are provided adjacent their ends with the slots 14 for engagement with the channel shaped rail members 15. The rail members 15 are secured to a building wall 16 by means of screws or the like 17, and the ends of the U frames 10 and 11 are engaged in the channel 15, as best seen in Figure 4. It will be clear that the structure comprising the framework 10, 11, l2, 13 can slide upwardly and downwardly in the channels 15. Spring members 18 are provided which are secured at their upper ends to the rail members 15 respectively, and at their lower ends to the upper U frame 10. The springs 18 therefore tend to urge the structure upwardly. Means are provided for securing the structure in any desired position of ad justment, which means may comprise the latch members 19 which are arranged to engage in the holes 20 in the rails 15. The latch members 19 may be integral with the handle members 21 by means of which the structure may be pulled down.

A roof structure may be provided as shown generally in Figure 6, wherein a piece of sheet aluminum or the like, is provided as indicated at 30. The member 30 may be bent to a dihedral angle as shown and be flanged as at 31. Tabs of flanges are provided with the keyhole slots 33 disposed with the narrow portions of the slots directly upwardly.

Headed fastening elements, such as the screws 34, are provided for engagement with the keyhole slots 33 so that the roof element 30 may be positioned by passing the enlarged portions of the keyhole slots 33 over the heads of the fastening elements 34, and then dropping the roof structure down so that the necks of the screws 34 engage in the narrow portions of the slots 33. It will be clear that water striking the member 30 will run ofl? down the pitch of the roof member and run off along the lower edges inside the awning structure.

The U frames 10 and 11 are covered by means of curtain elements indicated generally by the numeral 40. One of these curtain elements is shown in perspective in Figure 5, and it will be seen that it is generally of channel shape, and it may be provided with a corrugation 41 for decorative purposes if desired. The inturned flanges 42 are provided with the keyhole slots 43 which are disposed with the narrow portions of the slots inwardly directed. The keyhole slots 43 engage respectively with a series of beaded fastening elements 44 similar to the elements 34, but disposed on the outside of the U frames. In order to place a curtain member 40 in position it is only necessary to squeeze it together slightly so that the heads of the fastening elements 44 can pass through the enlarged portions of the keyhole slots 43 and then permit the member 40 to spring outwardly so that the narrow portions of the slots 43 are engaged by the necks of the fastening elements 44.

It will be observed that additional holes 45 may be provided in the flanges 42, and these may be used in connection with a pair of tongs or the like, as indicated in Figure 11. The ends 46 of the pair of tongs are of a size that they may enter the holes 45. Then when the bandle elements 47 are squeezed together the curtain mem bet is squeezed together and may readily be removed from the U frames. It is thus possible for a housewife from the inside of a house to remove individual ones or all of the curtain members 40, which will be relatively small and light since they are preferably made of aluminum, so that she may take them into the kitchen sink to wash them. She can then replace them by means of the tongs of Figure 11.

In Figure 8, I have shown a modified sliding arrangement where the elements which are secured to the building wall to serve as rails are strip members 50, and the U frames are provided at their ends with the gripping members 51 which are suitably bolted to the ends of the U frames. The strip members are spaced from the building wall by spacers 500.

In Figure 9, I have shown a modified roof arrangement wherein a sheet of aluminum or the like 55 is bent downwardly and provided in the trough with a series of drainage holes 56. The upper U frame is shown in broken lines to show the relationship between the U frame and the member 55.

In Figure 10, I have shown a modified clamping arrangement for holding the structure in a desired position of adjustment. As there shown a lug 60 is provided adjacent the end of the U frame member 10, and a thumb screw is threaded therethrough, as at 61. It will be clear that by tightening the thumb screw 61 the frame 10 may be clamped in position with respect to the rail 15,

In Figure 7, I have shown a modified curtain element structure. This structure is to provide louvers if such are desired, and the individual curtain members comprise the slanting portions 70 with the inturned flanges 71 which are provided with the keyhole slots 43 as before. At the outer ends of the members 70 there are riveted the bracket members 72 which are flanged as at 73, and the flanges 73 are provided with keyhole slots, as described in connection with Figure 5. Because of the fact that the brackets 72 are relatively narrow, air and light can pass through between adjacent cuntain members 70.

It will be clear that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and 1 therefore do not intend to limit myself otherwise than set forth in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

I. An awning structure comprising two U frames rigidly secured together in spaced, parallel relation, rails adapted to be secured to a building wall, the ends of said U frames having sliding engagement with said rails, means for securing said U frames in a desired position of adjustment with respect to said rails, a roof structure secured to the upper one of said U frames, and curtain elements releasably secured to, and extending between, said U frames.

2. In a structure according to claim 1, spring means tending to urge said U frames upwardly along said rails, and means for holding said U frames in one of a series of adjusted positions along said rails.

3. In a structure according to claim 1, spring means lending to urge said U frames upwardly along said rails,

and latch means for holding said U frames in one of a series of adjusted positions along said rails.

4. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said rails are flanged channels, and wherein said U frames are of tubing, the ends of said U frames being slotted to engage said flanges.

S. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said rails are strips of rectangular cross-section, and wherein means are provided on the ends of said U frames for engagement with said rails.

6. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said upper U frame is provided on its inner side with headed fastening elements, and wherein said roof structure is provided with keyhole slots for engagement with said headed fastening elements.

7. A structure according to claim 1, in which said U frames are provided on their outer sides with a plurality of headed fastening elements, wherein each of said curtain elements is of flanged channel shape cross section, and wherein each of the said flanges is provided with keyhole slots for engagement with the respective headed fastening elements, the narrow portions of said slots being inwardly directed, whereby a curtain element may be removed or replaced by squeezing it so as to align the wide portions of said slots with the heads of said fastening elements.

8. A structure according to claim 7, in which said curtain elements, in position on said U frame, abut each other closely and are disposed from end to end of said U frames.

9. A structure according to claim 1, in which said U frames are provided on their outer sides with a plurality of headed fastening elements, wherein each of said curtain elements has inturned fastening flanges provided with keyhole slots for engagement with the respective headed fastening elements, the narrow portions of said slots being inwardly directed, whereby a curtain element may be removed or replaced by squeezing it so as to align the wide portions of said slots with the heads of said fastening elements, some of said curtain elements, at least, providing louvers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS [88,724 Colahan Mar. 27, 1877 296,144 Davis Apr. 1, 1884 311,510 Moneyment Feb. 3, 1885 647,913 Cherry Apr. 17, 1900 2,154,394 Clark Apr. 11, 1939 2,565,545 Card Aug. 28, 1951 2,682,689 Helt July 6, 1954 

